Shoe flexing machine



March 22, 1949. J. FABER ErAL 2,464,969

SHOE FLEXING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1947 2 4. I /3 I ////////////AL I J'flcx FflB/se.

11-3. 3 G/LBEETE F4553.

Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE FLEXING MACHINE Jack Faber and Gilbert R. Faber, Millersburg, Pa.

Application February 17, 1947, Serial No. 729,158

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shoes and boots for individuals and more particularly to flexing of their soles to make them flt more comfortably on the wearer.

It has been customary to flex and bend the soles intended for shoes before they have been applied and sewed tothe uppers, at the factory. This is done to make them bend easier on the walkers feet, and while partially successful, it has not met the need adequately. This is because the assembly and sewing of the shoes produced an added stiifness to the shoes which the original flexing did not provide for, and therefore did not successfully anticipate.

This invention therefore was developed to meet this need by providing a machine that would take the finished and completed new or resoled shoe and flex it sufficiently to meet the needs of the wearer, at the time he is ready to wear it in actual service.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved shoe flexing machine that will avoid one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved flexing machine that will enable the flexing of a shoe to be done readily with it after the shoe is completely made up and commercially ready for the market and the user to put on.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flexing machine for shoes that will have features of adjustability, compactness, convenience in its use; and be ec-onomical to build and produce for practical use.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and the objects thereof, reference is made to the attached drawings, and the description following. These together present the invention in a i articular form by way of example, while the claims emphasize the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a shoe flexing device embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is an end view taken along lines 22 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

In the construction of this particular form shown, a shoe flexing machine consists of a framework In on which the side walls I I, top sur- 2 face or table [2 and bottom l3 are erected. A

motor 14 is provided with shafts I6 running horizontally from each end. The shafts l6 have cross-head wheels 18 and I9 fastened to their end portions and arranged to adjustably hold cross heads I5 and I1 positioned on connecting rods 20 and 2| by studs 30. The wheels l8 and I9 are keyed to the shafts IE or otherwise held to enable them to rotate with each other. The connecting rods 29 and 2| are connected with pushers 23 that are operated in guides 22 fastened to the framework In and reciprocate in a straight line. The cross-head wheels l8 and iii are attached to the connecting rods 20 and 2| by crossheads [5 and I! which operate in slots 24 so they can vary the length of the stroke, of the rods 20 and 2|. The pushers 23 are surmounted by a flexing plate 25 having a number of rollers 26 arranged along its upper surface and adapted to make contact with the lower surface of the sole of a shoe 36 held on the table 12. A clam-p 21 has a block 28 insertable in each shoe 36 to be flexed, and fastening the heel to the table so it will be rigidly placed. A heel plate 29 presses against the back of each shoe to provide for a positive positioning of the shoe at that part. This heel plate is adjustable horizontally on the table l2 by means on a tongue 3| held in the slot 32 arranged therefor.

The purpose of the adjustment of the heel plate 29 is to permit the flexing plate 25 to be placed under the shoe sole in the most app opriate location for the work to be done. The block 28 holding the shoe to the table extends over the heel leaving the sole half free and open to be operated on. The flexing plate 25 is brought up against this sole and pushes up against it as it reci-procates. This bends the sole up through an angle sufficient to flex it and ordinarily allow it to drop back, but where the resiliency of the material of the sole is not enough to provide for this, the block 28 is used with a metal tongue 35 extending from it towards the toe of the shoe to give suflicient resiliency to do so. This does not interfere with the general flexing of the sole but in fact protects it against cracking. The diameters of the rollers 26 are spaced about 6" apart which is enough to permit the sole to be bent easily and without untoward rubbing of the shoe to mar its appearance.

It can be appreciated that the shoe may be readily placed on the table l2 of the machine and clamped in position, and the amount of flexing adjusted to suit the extent of flexing to be made on the shoe through the adjustment on the cross head wheels. If a pair of shoes are to be flexed at the same time, they can be done on the machine using both clamps, heel plates and flexing plates at the same time on the same table. In this way the flexing for both shoes is the same and controllable to any extent desirable.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawings and described in the speciflcations, it is not desired to limit this application for patent torthisparticular form or in any other way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms of con struction could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope. of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A shoe flexing machine of the class described comprising in combination, a framework having a table formed at its upper portion for supporting a shoe thereon, said table having, a slot therein, a roller flexing plate positioned over said table slot. and fastened at one end to said table;.a heel plate positioned on said table for locating ashoe in: predetermined; relationship with said slot, a clamp for holding the shoe against the table and hee1 plate, a pusher oscillating up and, down in said slot to raise and lower said roller flexing plate,and means for operating said pusner.

2. A shoe flexing machine of the class described comprising in combination, a framework having a tableformed at, its upper portionfor supporting a shoe; thereon, said table having a slotthereln, a roller flexing plate positioned, over said table slot; and fastened at one end tosaid table, a heel plate positioned on said table for'locating ashoe in predetermined relationship with said slot, a clamp for holding the shoe against the table and heel plate, a pusher oscillating up and down in said slot to raise and lower said roller flexing plate, means for operating said pusher, and adjusting means attached to said pusher for regulating its amount of travel in said slot.

3. A shoe flexing machine of the class described comprising in combination, a framework having a table formed at its upper" portion for, supporting a shoe thereon, said table having a slotthereln, a roller flexing plate positioned over said table slot and fastened at one end to said table, a heel plate positioned on said table for locating a shoe in predetermined relationship with said slot, a clamp for holding the shoe against the table and heel plate, apusher oscillating up and down in said slot to raise and lower said roller flexing plate, means for operating said pusher, adjusting means attached to saidpusher for regulating its amount of travel in said slot, said heel plate being adjustably attached to said table to regulate the amount of the shoe sole being flexed.

JACK FABER. GILBERT. R, FABER.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing referencesare of record: in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 588,703 Learoyd' Aug. 24, 1897 1,331,232 Bancroft Eeb; 17,1920v 1,848,697 Costigan Mar. 8, 1932 2,008,237 Bliss:- ,Julylfi, 1935 

